Problem with animation easing

Hi, I'm working on a scene where there are a number of different animated elements: the camera, a few planes etc, but for some reason the easing between each key frame is weird...

For example, say I want a plane to take off, if I set the key frame of the plane on the ground at 0 and then move the y-coordinates at frame 60, instead of creating a smooth path, the plane follows a curve and dips into the ground. Then if I want it to continue straight, it slows down and speeds up again, making movement unrealistic. This also means the planes and camera are impossible to sync.

When I open a new file and try the same animation it's exactly how I want it and I don't get any weird behaviour between key frames. I'm wondering if I've accidentally changed a setting on the file I'm working on. This happens when animating any object but only in that file. I can't start again, unfortunately.

Can someone please help? I can't find information about this anywhere!

One more thing: If you select the camera (the little inverted triangle down at the bottom right from the drop down list of objects in your scene), then click the little 'A' in the camera's sub menu, then click on the 'Linking' tab, you can set the camera to automatically track the object you want it to follow.

Have you tried deleting the keyframes’s flightpath (movement) for the objects that you are working on. It will be a pain to apply it to each object, however, in deleting all you do is select the object in question (it’ll be as a red mesh), hold down the shift key, and then click on the minus button (on the right side of keyframe key button). This completely deletes the whole flightpath for the object in question, where you can then retry, recast it again.

Obviously, before attempting the above, save the current file as a different Bryce file; so’s that if anything goes wrong with it, you can always go back to your original file. Sorry I couldn’t have been more helpful.

Hi, I'm working on a scene where there are a number of different animated elements: the camera, a few planes etc, but for some reason the easing between each key frame is weird...

Even without looking at your file... I know. Bryce does weird things with keyframe easing. In fact, 'easing' is often the opposite of what happens. I frequently encounter unfeasible acceleration rather than easing...

Jamahoney's on the right track, but his solution might be a little more overkill than you need. Your problem is you've added a third keyframe in your trajectory. It's probably located right at the beginning or end of your 2-point trajectory: one of those key-frames is actually TWO keyframes side-by-side.

If you plot a two-point trajectory, you get linear motion. That's inescapable in Bryce. Two keyframes = straight line. You can vary the acceleration that can happen along that line, but it stays a straight line.

You've got a curve. That means you've got at least 3 keyframes on the line, the middle one of which is not in the same line of motion as the outside two.

Select the plane. Use the Previous Keyframe button in the animation transport controls ( <| ) to go to your first keyframe. Click the Next Keyframe button until you locate a point in time where the time scrubber doesn't appear to move (but in reality, is probably 1 or two frames further along from the last keyframe). When you're positioned on the hidden keyframe, press the Key-minus button.</p>

For future reference: I suggest going the Edit Attributes... > Animation tab of all moving objects and set every radio button to full visibility all the time, with the ribbon view on. It will help in animation diagnostics, and unless the animation is incredibly complex, not that intrusive.

@npalomaresmoral
The fact that you’re having this problem with all objects, I wonder has the particular file become corrupt somehow along the way. Else, would it be some kind of grouping issue integrated with, say, individual parts within the objects in question.

On your speed issue: I’ve always had problems with speeds of objects in Bryce, too, and unless I create even movements of the objects along with evenly-spaced scrubber movements, the end flightpath has nearly always some speeding not bargained for in it. Creating or deleting additional tick marks for keyframes (e.g. drag scrubber, then click (+) or (-) button found on either side of the Key button...etc.,) along the flightpath can sometimes rectify (if not using the Create Path option, too), but more than likely if it isn’t planned carefully at the start for, say, special areas that one really wants to move slow or fast, the final animation won’t always go the way one wants it to.

Your best option, however, is to listen to whatever Oroboros tells you do as his animation experience, for me anyway, has always been of great help.

The fact that you’re having this problem with all objects, I wonder has the particular file become corrupt somehow along the way.

It's highly unlikely this is the result of file corruption JH, but I agree with your latter speculation: when multiple objects are affected, grouping, parenting and tracking eccentricities could be the cause.

However, it's more likely to be that the designer selected all objects at some point and either accidentally gave them a nudge in Auto-Key mode, or tapped the Key-plus button, which sets a keyframe on all objects selected.

It's hard to diagnose until you switch on all the trajectory toys in the Animation tab. Even acceleration issues can be revealed when you View as Ribbon: tightly spaced rungs indicate deceleration, wide-spaced rungs indicate acceleration.

Your best option, however, is to listen to whatever Oroboros tells you

@npalomaresmoral
Just another thought: is the problem showing up in an actual animation render, or just in the mesh(s) animation through the normal Camera View – you don’t say. It would be handy to hear from you!

I know that this is old, but I'm only commenting because it is a great question, and I had the exact same problem, and I believe I have found the easy fix. (Using Daz 3d 4.9)

It's kind of a mix of everything Oroboros and Jamahoney have mentioned, but concise. It's just a lack of clarity from Bryce, due to tracking individual pieces of an object's keyframes seperately (at least it was for me. Again, commenting on an old post in the hopes of helping somebody else.)

Because of the independent keyframe tracking that Bryce has, select the parent object, and right click on it to select all of it's children. I did so in the Scene panel.

In the Bryce timeline, EVERY keyframe, even the ones done from children pieces, should be visible now.